EVERY ASPECT OF OUR LIFE HAS A PURPOSE!

EXODUS 27:20-21: “You shall command the people of Israel that they bring to you pure beaten olive oil for the light, that a lamp may regularly be set up to burn. 21 In the tent of meeting, outside the veil that is before the testimony, Aaron and his sons shall tend it from evening to morning before the LORD. It shall be a statute forever to be observed throughout their generations by the people of Israel.”

OBSERVATION: The instructions concerning the building of the Tabernacle are very meticulous. They are not the “stuff” of deep personal revelations, normally. I find when I read through them that I get lost in all the detail. Yet, it is the detail that really speaks of the Nature of God. God is a God of order and design. He creates things with purpose and beauty. There is nothing that He does not deliberate over. Everything in His plan has a purpose and a meaning.

Such it is with our lives. Every aspect of our lives has both purpose and meaning. Every experience we go through is being hammered out by the Great Grace of God to bring forth something beautiful, something of purpose. He takes our ashes and creates His beauty. He takes our mourning and the times we have been crushed, and like the pure anointing oil, He makes His oil of joy. He takes our weariness, heaviness, and despair and He breathes life into our dry spirits and gives us the garment of praise. He is making His Tabernacle in our hearts from raw materials that we often deem ready for the scrap pile. Yet – He redeems them and creates something of beauty.

All throughout this process He calls us to keep our light shining. It is the light of faith that shines before the veil. It is the light of hope that declares to an unbelieving world the goodness and love of God. It is the testimony of our faith that responds in obedience knowing that He who has begun His good work in us will complete it.

The Golden Lightstand in the Tabernacle stood before the Table of Showbread, the Altar of Incense, and before the Veil which separated them from the Ark of the Covenant. The Ark of the Covenant contained the Two Tablets written with the hand of God, a pot of manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded. It represented God’s Word, His provision, and His rule. The light shone before the showbread and the altar of incense that was offered daily in front of the veil. It was a constant testimony of God’s Grace and Covenant.

Today we are God’s Lightstand. We stand between the truth of God’s Covenant in Jesus Christ and an unbelieving world. Jesus said – “Let you light so shine before men that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father which is in Heaven.” (Matthew 5:16). We are those who are now called to illuminate the way to the Father through Jesus Christ. It is our call and our responsibility to trim our lamps (prepare our hearts) and to be filled with His oil (the Holy Spirit) so that we can live a life that gives testimony to the Grace and Mercy of God and calls others to believe.

Lord, thank you for Your deliberation, purpose, and faithfulness in my life. Thank You that you are working to bring forth something of beauty – even when things seem to be at their darkest. Thank you for the promise of Your Holy Spirit who renews, revives, and gives me both light and life. Let me shine forth Your life today so that I might give testimony of Your great love! In Jesus Name!